History Main / ElementalShapeShifter

** The [[ElementalPowers Logia]] [[PowerUpFood Devil Fruit]] users are essentially this, since the ability to transform into their element is one of the three main attributes granted to them with Logia Devil Fruits. Their elemental forms can be toggled on or off, and they can either transform partially, or their entire body. However, most experienced users will have the ability to transform instantaneously by reflex, with one character being able to do so even while asleep. Interestingly enough, almost all users of Logia Devil Fruits choose to keep their outward appearances the same even when in elemental form, contrary to many western examples (although they can change this if they wish, as illustrated with Enel's Amaru transformation). When attacked, their bodies will disperse into their element, allowing most physical assaults to pass harmlessly through their fluid bodies (since their outward appearances give no hints of their Devil Fruit power, many enemies learn this the hard way). A rare counterexample is Kuzan, whose element is ice, and can't simply dissolve out of harm's way in a fluid manner like the other Logia users. He usually just tanks the attack and shatters into ice, only to reform his icy body moments later, unharmed. The only time non-Haki based attacks will affect a Logia user is [[ElementalRockPaperScissors when it's an element-specific weakness]] (such as water negating sand, rubber negating electricity [[spoiler:or magma negating fire]]).
** Subverted with at least one Logia fruit. The Dark-Dark Fruit ("Yami-Yami no Mi") does ''not'' give its consumer the ability to shapeshift into elemental matter, perhaps because its interpretation of "darkness" is "all-consuming black void". Indeed, its bearer, Marshall D. Teach, better known as "Blackbeard", claims it actually intensifies the pain of attacks launched against him.
** Charlotte Katakuri of the Big Mom Pirates is an interesting example, as his Mochi-Mochi Fruit ("Mochi Mochi no Mi") allows him to produce a nigh-infinite amount of mochi and turn himself into mochi, giving him the same "immune to physical attacks" properties as a Logia. Despite this, his Devil Fruit is classified as a "special Paramythia", likely because mochi is not actually an element (it's man-made foodstuff made from rice and sugar). Katakuri's ability to dodge attacks like a Logia is also not a property of the Devil Fruit itself, per se, but rather his mastery of the Devil Fruit on top of his borderline {{Precognition}} giving him CombatClairvoyance. While the Mochi-Mochi Fruit ''was'' initially described by Jimbei when he first started fighting, a point in Katakuri's battle with Luffy is Luffy realizing he ''isn't'' a Logia, and is as vulnerable to being hit as anyone else, provided he can get past Katakuri's ''other'' defenses to do so.

* In ''VideoGame/ChicoryAColorfulTale'', this is the second Brush ability Pizza gets. While they don't actually turn into paint, they gain the ability to swim through it ''as if'' they dissolved themself into it, allowing them to squeeze through tight spaces and burrow underground.

* ''{{VideoGame/Arcanum}}'': The final spell of all the elemental colleges turns the caster into an elemental. However, it drains mana ''very'' fast.

* Livewire in ''WesternAnimation/SupermanTheAnimatedSeries'' could turn into electricity, and true to name travel through powerlines.

[[quoteright:254:[[Franchise/SpiderMan https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Hydro-Man_710.jpg]]]]

** ComicBook/SpiderMan villain Hydro Man can transform all or part of his body into water.

** The [[ElementalPowers Logia]] [[PowerUpFood Devil Fruit]] users are essentially this, since the ability to transform into their element is one of the three main attributes granted to them with Logia Devil Fruits. Their elemental forms can be toggled on or off, and they can either transform partially, or their entire body. However, most experienced users will have the ability to transform instantaneously by reflex, with one character being able to do so even while asleep. Interestingly enough, almost all users of Logia Devil Fruits choose to keep their outward appearances the same even when in elemental form, contrary to many western examples (although they can change this if they wish, as illustrated with Eneru's Amaru transformation). When attacked, their bodies will disperse into their element, allowing most physical assaults to pass harmlessly through their fluid bodies (since their outward appearances give no hints of their Devil Fruit power, many enemies learn this the hard way). A rare counterexample is Kuzan, whose element is ice, and can't simply dissolve out of harm's way in a fluid manner like the other Logia users. He usually just tanks the attack and shatters into ice, only to reform his icy body moments later, unharmed. The only time non-Haki based attacks will affect a Logia user is [[ElementalRockPaperScissors when it's an element-specific weakness]] (such as water negating sand, rubber negating electricity [[spoiler:or magma negating fire]]).

* ''VideoGame/WarcraftIII's'' Pandaran's "Storm, Earth, and Fire" ability splits the hero into three different beings, each themed after the particular element.

An Elemental Shapeshifter is a ShapeShifting character who can turn into one of the ElementsOfNature (typically air, earth, water, and fire, though this might vary according to the work). Depending on the story or situation, the character might be able to only partially change part of himself into the element involved, and may or may not retain his original shape after the change.